Journo Thapa's murder accused remanded in custody for 7 days

DAILEKH, JAN 10 -

Five Maoist cadres accused of murdering Journalist Dekendra Thapa have been remanded in custody for seven days to carry out further investigation into the case.

The Dailekh police amid tight security produced the Maoist cadres before the court to extend their judicial custody on Thursday.. Earlier, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai had directed not to present the murder accused before the court.

Sources confirmed that Prime Minister Bhattarai had ordered through the Inspector General of Police (IGP) not to produce the accused before the court saying that decision will be taken regarding the case by this afternoon. Police made preparations to produce the accused before the court at about 10 am as their judicial custody ends today. Police has not recorded statements from the accused for two days in the direction of the prime minister.

On Sunday, the District Court of Dailekh remanded the accused to judicial custody for five days. Among the five accused, Lachhiram Gharti, a local Maoist leader, has already confessed to committing the crime.

Dekendra, who worked for Radio Nepal, was abducted by the Maoists rebels in June 26, 2004 from Dailekh. The Maoists tortured him in captivity for more than a month before they finally killed him on August 11. His body was found buried in a jungle near Dwari VDC after four years in 2008.